Skip to main content

IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Contrasting effects of mean intensity and temporal variation of disturbance on assemblages of rocky shores
Bertocci, I.; Maggi, E.; Vaselli, S.; Benedetti-Cecchi, L. (2005). Contrasting effects of mean intensity and temporal variation of disturbance on assemblages of rocky shores. Ecology 86(8): 2061-2067
In: Ecology. Ecological Society of America: Brooklyn, NY. ISSN 0012-9658; e-ISSN 1939-9170, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Algae
    Aquatic organisms > Marine organisms > Aquatic animals > Marine invertebrates
    Biodiversity
    Climate
    Climate change
    Climatic changes > Climate change
    Ecosystem disturbance
    Geography > Biogeography
    Population characteristics > Population number
    Prediction
    Temporal variations
    Chthamalus stellatus (Poli, 1791) [WoRMS]
    Mediterranean [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 

Abstract
    Understanding the extent to which natural assemblages withstand changes in the regime of disturbance has considerable practical and theoretical interest. In this paper we examine the separate and interactive effects of intensity, temporal variation and spatial extent of disturbance on temporal variance in assemblages of algae and invertebrates of rocky shores in the north-west Mediterranean. Temporal variation of disturbance is a predictor variable in the experiment, whilst temporal variance in abundance and number of taxa and in structure of assemblages are response variables. Multivariate analyses detected a positive relationship between intensity of disturbance and temporal variance in the structure of assemblages, whilst temporal variation of disturbance elicited the opposite effect. Univariate analyses conducted on the most abundant taxa revealed idiosyncratic patterns, while temporal variance in mean number of taxa was greatly reduced by disturbance, with no distinction among levels of intensity, temporal variation or spatial extent. These outcomes suggest caution in interpreting the results of experiments in which intensity and temporal variation of disturbance can not be separated. Distinguishing between these traits of disturbance may be key to predict the ecological consequence of environmental fluctuations, including those expected under modified climate scenarios.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors